Monday 28 July at 13:10 : Valencia's new formula one street circuit received its final official rubber-stamp at the weekend, less than one month before the inaugural European grand prix there.

As a dress rehearsal for the F1 event, the Spanish street track hosted GT and local formula three races at the weekend.

The weekend was attended by FIA delegate Charlie Whiting, who presented official approval for the circuit to Spanish motor racing chief Carlos Gracia, and promoter Jorge Martinez Aspar.

"From this moment, the countdown to the grand prix begins," Gracia is quoted as saying by the newspaper Diario AS.

Also at the Valencia races at the weekend, according to the newspaper El Mundo, were a plethora of F1 personnel and engineers, keen to study the nuances of the circuit in its final form.

The F1 people reportedly worked alongside the GT and F3 teams, studying and copying the telemetry that was being gathered, while logistics personnel made other studies for the forthcoming event.